Australia's Origin: secures site for LNG plant

PERTH Aug 18 (Reuters) - Australia's Origin Energy Ltd (ORG.AX), a partner with U.S. ConocoPhillips (COP.N) to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Australia, said on Tuesday it has secured a site to build the facility.

Origin, which is also Australia's second-largest power retailer, said in a statement that it had secured the Laird Point site on Curtis Island in the Port of Gladstone from the Queensland state Government.

Origin said the joint venture is on track for a final investment decision on the project by the end of 2010 and first LNG production by the end of 2014. (Reporting by Fayen Wong)